Mykines, Mykines

The population reached about 179 in 1925 and was still 150 in 1953. Since then it has decreased, and it now fluctuates during the year with a permanent population of around twenty people being supplemented during summer when families who used to live on the island return to their houses for the summer vacation. ==Transport==

Land Mykines Island has no roads: access to other parts of the island is on foot, using well-used footpaths. Although Mykines village does have asphalted streets, there aren’t any conventional cars on the islands. Residents usually rely on all-terrain vehicles to transport heavier goods around the village. Sea The village has a small harbour, though the regularity of ferry services can be disrupted by inclement weather. A small ferry visits one to three times a day from 1 May to 31 August and again in one week of October, when the Faroese schools have a holiday (and only if the weather allows it). The ferry is run by a private company and not like the other ferries by the public bus and ferry company Strandfaraskip Landsins (SSL). Every year boat owners can make an offer to SSL in order to run the ferry to Mykines. In 2015 there was one boat called M/B Jósup, which transported tourists and locals from Sørvágur to Mykines and back again. During winter there is no ferry service, only helicopter service. but there is also a simple funicular for goods transport. Some cruise ships visit Mykines, but they need to anchor at sea and use small boats to get ashore. Air It is possible to reach Mykines three to four times a week by helicopter operated by Atlantic Airways: Sunday, Wednesday and Fridays. In June, July and August it is also possible to take the helicopter to Mykines on Mondays. They go from Vágar Airport to Mykines and back. When there is no boat, it is not possible for residents to leave Mykines and come back same day. There is a simple helipad at Mykines. ==Climate==

Mykines has a Tundra climate (Köppen climate classification ET), an oddity in most of the Faroe Islands, which mostly has a Subpolar oceanic climate (Köppen climate classification Cfc). ==People from Mykines==

The first professional Faroese painter, S. J. Mikines was born in the village and drew inspiration from Mykines. ==Facilities==

A blue house at the entrance to the village bears a sign Kristianshús - the house is part guest house and part hostel. The rooms are small, the staircase steep and the hallways are narrow, but the accommodation is good. The cafeteria has an attic room in which S. J. Mikines used to paint. Alternative accommodation is provided at Gula Husid. ==Economy==

The economy is based on sheep farming and on tourism. ==History==

A brief history of Mykines can be summarised as follows: A marble memorial was placed in the Church. • 1970 - Mykines lighthouse was automated and the last man moved from the Holm, which had been occupied continuously from 1909 by a varying population of up to 22 people (including children). • 1971 - Danish Navy Alouette helicopter brought Christmas mail on 23 December since no boat had been able to land for some time due to bad weather. The helicopter engine failed so the crew stayed for Christmas. Mechanics flew in from Denmark on 28 December in two Sikorsky S-61 helicopters and repaired the Alouette. One Sikorsky could not leave because of technical problems, but the other two helicopters left on 2 January. • 1979-80 - new radio beacon and telecommunications facility constructed high on the island; materials transported by helicopter • 1981 - trial of scheduled passenger transportation by helicopter between July and October • 1981 - Anker Jørgensen, Prime Minister of Denmark, visited the island by helicopter on 20 August • 1983 - permanent scheduled passenger flights between the smaller islands started and has continued ever since • 1987 - a new ferry boat came into service - called Sulan like its 1927 predecessor • 1989 - the third bridge between Mykines and Mykines Holm came into use in June • 1990 - roads in Mykines village were asphalted • 1990 - Queen Margrethe of Denmark and Prince Henrik visited on 20 June • 1991 - three men lost their lives in a shipwreck south of Mykines • 1992 - hotel Kristianshus was inaugurated on 17 May; forty people were flown to Mykines by helicopter for the reception, including the Faroese minister for tourism • 1999 - Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, Prime Minister of Denmark, and Jonathan Motzfeldt, the Greenlandic "landsstyreformand" visited Mykines on 9 August • 2001 - the Icelandic president and the Faroese "lagmand" visited Mykines ==See also==